After 40 years, US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson arrives in Vietnam

For the first time since the end of the Vietnam War, a US aircraft carrier made a port call in Vietnam on Monday, signaling how China's rise is bringing together former foes in a significant shift in the regions geopolitical landscape, the media reported.

The USS Carl Vinson, anchored off Danang, the port city that served as a major staging post for the American war effort in the country, reports The New York Times.

"It's a pretty big and historic step since a carrier has not been here for 40 years," said Rear Adm. John V. Fuller, the commander of the Carl Vinson strike group, whose father served in Vietnam.

"We hope to continue the same issue that we've always had...

US bombers train over South Korea ahead of Donald Trump's visit

Two US strategic B-1B bombers conducted drills over South Korea on Thursday, the US Air Force said, days before President Donald Trump arrives in the country amid high tensions with North Korea over its nuclear weapon programme.

News of the drills was first reported by North Korean state news agency KCNA on Friday, which said the exercises involving South Korean and Japanese fighter jets were a “surprise nuclear strike drill”.

“The reality clearly shows that the gangster-like US imperialists are the very one who is aggravating the situation of the Korean peninsula and seeking to ignite a nuclear war,” KCNA said.

Trump arrives in Asia on Sunday, beginning his first trip to the region as president in Japan before heading to South Korea and China, then Vietnam and the Philippines.

A series of missile tests by North Korea and its sixth and largest nuclear test have fuelled the most critical international challenge of Trump’s presidency.

The goal of Trump’s visit will be to increase international support for efforts to deprive North Korea of resources as leverage to coerce it to give up nuclear weapons, US officials said.

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TPP trade deal members seek to move ahead without US

Remaining members of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement are working on a statement to reaffirm their commitment to it, despite the withdrawal of the United States, sources close to the discussions said.

Some still hope for the eventual return of the United States to the deal ditched by US President Donald Trump, because of his readiness to shift position on other issues, Malaysia's trade minister said.

Talks are happening on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting, the biggest trade gathering since Trump upended the world order with his "America First" policy.

The competing visions are evident at this weekend's Apec meeting of ministers from countries that account for well over 40 per cent of world trade.

While new US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will hold bilateral talks with key countries, China will be pushing its favoured Asian trade agreement as it puts itself forward as a global free trade champion.

Japan is leading the countries that still want to persist with the much more comprehensive TPP agreement, abandoned by Trump in one of his first acts in office and which does not include China.

Sources close to the discussions said the so-called TPP-11 nations - the 11 left after the United States withdrew - were planning a statement of commitment to the pact.

"There will be two main points: 1. To aim for an early entry into force of the TPP-11 2. To bear in mind an environment where a signatory country can return," said one source close to the discussions who was not authorised to speak to the media.

The agreement is due to take effect next year.

CHALLENGES

Among the challenges is keeping on board Vietnam and Malaysia, which would have been big beneficiaries from the agreement if it included the United States.

Some renegotiation would be needed for the deal to proceed without the United States, Malaysian Trade Minister Mustapa Mohamed told Reuters. A Vietnamese official expressed a similar view.

Mustapa said there was optimism the United States would return one day, because Trump had shown readiness to shift his position on other matters, such as softening his stance towards China.
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